Effect of Cranberry Extract on the Frequency of Bacteriuria in Dogs with Acute Thoracolumbar Disk Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

BackgroundDogs with spinal cord injury are at increased risk of developing bacteriuria due to increased residual urine volume. Cranberry extract inhibits binding of E. coli to uroepithelial cells, potentially reducing risk of bacteriuria.HypothesisCranberry extract reduces risk of bacteriuria in dogs after acute TL‐IVDH.AnimalsClient‐owned dogs with acute onset TL‐IVDH causing nonambulatory status.MethodsRandomized, placebo‐controlled, blinded, prospective clinical trial. Dogs with acute TL‐IVDH were recruited 48 hours postoperatively and randomized to receive cranberry extract or placebo in a masked fashion. Urine cultures and neurological examinations were performed 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively. The number of dogs with bacteriuria (all bacterial species) and bacteriuria (E. coli) were primary and secondary outcome measures and were evaluated using chi‐squared test. Urine antiadhesion activity (AAA) was measured in a subset (N = 47) and examined in a secondary analysis evaluating additional risk factors for bacteriuria.ResultsBacteriuria was detected 17 times in 94 dogs (6 placebo, 11 cranberry, P = .12). There were 7 E. coli. positive cultures (1 placebo, 6 cranberry, P = .09). Dogs in both groups had positive urine AAA (14/21: placebo, 16/26: cranberry), and dogs with urine AAA had significantly fewer E. coli positive cultures (n = 1) than dogs without it (n = 4) (P = .047).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThis clinical trial did not show a benefit of oral cranberry extract but had low power. Cranberry extract supplementation did not impact urine AAA, but a possible association between urine AAA and lower risk of E. coli bacteriuria was identified. Other doses could be investigated.

Urological Sequelae to Acute Spinal Cord Injury in Pet Dogs: A Natural Disease Model of Neuropathic Bladder Dysfunction

“…However, dogs with higher urine antiadhesion activity were less likely to have a UTI. 57 cases. α-Sympatholytic agents such as prazosin, alfuzosin, tamsulosin, and phenoxybenzamine can facilitate relaxation of the internal urethral sphincter, making bladder expression easier.…”

Spontaneous acute and chronic spinal cord injuries in paraplegic dogs: a comparative study of in vivo diffusion tensor imaging

“…57,58,79 Private-owned dogs with SCI represent a very unique study population mirroring circumstances present in human SCI, as many of them may present co-morbidities at the time point of the SCI and may be affected from post-injury complications such as recurrent urinary bladder infections. 30,80 Moreover, dogs affected by spontaneous SCI are often managed long term by their owners albeit absent or incomplete functional recovery. 30 In contrast to what has been reported in rodents with experimentally induced SCI, the fact that DTI metrics behave differently between acute and chronic stages in a spontaneous model of SCI opens the window for further research opportunities such as correlations regarding outcome, motor functional recovery and prognostic value of DTI for clinical trials that could potentially benefit both, humans and dogs affected with severe SCI.…”

Signifikante Bakteriurie der Katze: bakterielle Harnwegsinfektion und subklinische Bakteriurie

“…Beim Mensch verhindern Proanthocyanidine aus Cranberrys die Adhäsion von UPEC an das Uroepithel und reduzieren dadurch die Prävalenz von HWI signifikant (29,32,37). Bei Hunden konnte eine reduzierte Adhäsion von E. coli in vitro zwar nachgewiesen werden, doch ließ sich die Wirksamkeit in vivo mit den eingesetzten Dosierungen bislang nicht bestätigen (70,88).…”